An evening of health and fun

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
An evening of shopping, food, friends and health promises to be the getaway every girl needs thanks to Weston County Health Services and other health care professionals and vendors in the community. On Sept. 7 from 1-8 p.m., the Newcastle Lodge and Convention Center will become a getaway for the ladies, featuring breast health knowledge, shopping and goodies for everyone. 
“We were approached by Kim Nelson from the Wyoming Cancer Resource Services about doing an event for ladies to help encourage breast cancer screening with the new 3-D mammography machine,” organizer Denice Pisciotti said. “Kim explained that we could apply for a grant to help with the expenses through the Wyoming Breast Initiative.” 
Weston County Health Services CEO Maureen Cadwell jumped at the opportunity and quickly applied for the grant. 
“Through the initiative, we received $2,000 to help promote the event and provide food for the attendees,” Pisciotti said. 
Both Cadwell and Pisciotti then met with Michelle Garhart, the hospital’s radiology manager and mammography technologist, and Charnel Munger, also a WCHS mammography technologist, to brainstorm ideas for the event. Pisciotti said that Linda Ahlers, general manager at the Newcastle Lodge and Convention Center, was also very helpful in planning the evening, which the group hopes to continue annually. 
“Ashley Tupper, nurse practitioner, generously offered to give free breast exams from 1 to 4 p.m.,” Pisciotti said. “They will be upstairs away from the hustle and bustle of the vendors. Our mammography technologists will be on hand to schedule 3-D mammographies for women attending the event. Appointments are even available one Saturday a month – the date is published in the Specialty Clinic Schedule each month in both county newspapers.” 
Nelson will also be on hand, according to Pisciotti, to help woman who qualify for financial assistance with the requirements needed to pay for their screenings. 
“The banquet room will be beautifully decorated. Appetizers will be available for all the ladies to enjoy, along with wine tasting,” Pisciotti said. “The lodge has even made the swimming pool and hot tub available to all attendees.” 
Pisciotti, along with Garhart and Munger, also contacted vendors of different items, including jewelry, clothes, gifts, crafts, leather, facial care products, nail polish and fitness and wellness items to be present so the women could browse and shop after addressing their breast health needs.